Prime Minister Narendra Modi leaves for Singapore tonight to attend the East Asia Summit, ASEAN-India informal meet and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Summit. Mr. Modi will hold several bilateral meetings during his stay in Singapore, including one with the US Vice President Mike Pence. Prime Minister will be the first head of government to deliver an address at the Singapore Fintech Festival which is one of the largest events on financial technology. During his two-day visit, Mr Modi along with leaders from US, Japan, and Australia will also meet for the third round of the Quadrilateral dialogue, the Quad on the sidelines of the East Asia summit. He will also meet the participants of India Singapore Hackathon. Our Correspondent accompanying the Prime Minister has filed this report:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi departs for Singapore in a short while from now and a busy and hectic schedule awaits him there. A short but focused visit of Mr Modi to the eastern neighbourhood will witness him participating in three summits. His address which will be the first by a head of government, to about 30 thousand people at the Fintech Festival will be another proof of India’s increasing importance at the regional and international fora. The bilateral meetings he is going to hold with various heads of governments will be aimed at giving further impetus to closer ties with those countries. His meeting with US Vice President Mike pence will be exchange of views on various issues between the world's top democracies.

The East Asia Summit from 2005 has come of age with its 13th (thirteenth) edition in progress. During these years the Summit with all its ups and downs is growing. Naseem Naqvi, AIR News, New Delhi.

Meanwhile, Mr Modi has expressed confidence that his visit to Singapore will impart fresh momentum to the growing partnership with ASEAN and East Asia Summit nations. In his departure statement, he said, his participation in the ASEAN-India and East Asia Summits symbolizes India's continued commitment to strengthening its engagement with ASEAN member states and with the wider Indo-Pacific region. Prime Minister said, he is looking forward to his interactions with ASEAN and East Asia Summit Leaders.

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The Supreme Court has agreed to hear in open court review petitions challenging its verdict which allowed entry of women of all age groups into Sabarimala Temple. A five-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices RF Nariman, AM Khanwilkar, DY Chandrachud and Indu Malhotra will hear the 49 review petitions on 22nd of January. The apex Court said their is no stay on its 28th September verdict allowing women entry into the hill shrine.

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Mortal remains of Union Minister and senior BJP leader Ananth Kumar were consigned to flames in Bengaluru with full state honours this evening. He passed away yesterday. A stream of leaders led by Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu paid their last respects to the departed leader today.

Earlier, the mortal remains were kept in National College Grounds in Basavanagudi for the public to pay their last respects to their beloved leader. Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid his last respects to Ananth Kumar at his residence in Basavanagudi, last night and consoled the family members. A special meeting of the Union Cabinet was held today to condole his demise. In a resolution, the Cabinet noted that in his passing away, the Nation has lost an experienced leader.

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Rural Development Minister Narendra Singh Tomar will now hold the charge of the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs following the demise of Union Minister Ananth Kumar. President Ram Nath Kovind has assigned the charge to Mr Tomar. Minister for Statistics and Programme Implementation D V Sadanand Gowda has been given the charge of the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, in addition to his existing portfolio.

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In Madhya Pradesh, the full bench of Election Commission today reviewed poll preparedness for assembly elections in the state.

A high-level team of the Commission headed by Chief Election Commissioner O P Rawat held meetings with District Returning officers, Superintendents of police of various districts and other senior officials in Indore.

The Commission has expressed satisfaction over election preparations in 18 districts of Indore, Ujjain and Narmadapuram divisions of the state. Mr Rawat directed the election officials of the state to make optimal use of social media to motivate youth to exercise their franchise.

The state goes to polls on the 28th of this month. Voting will be held for the 230-seat State Assembly.

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In Mizoram, campaigning has gained momentum to elect a new Assembly. Top Leaders of most parties are touring all corners of the state to woo voters. Major issues in the election are development, unemployment and roadways infrastructure. For the 28th November Assembly elections, 112 candidates are in the fray after scrutiny of nominations. Congress and MNF both have fielded 40 candidates. BJP is contesting on 39 seats.

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Government has extended the ban on eight extremist groups in Manipur for five more years under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The organizations banned are Peoples’ Liberation Army, Revolutionary Peoples’ Front, United National Liberation Front, Manipur Peoples’ Army, Peoples’ Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak, Kangleipak Communist Party, Kanglei Yaol Kanba Lup and the Alliance for Socialist Unity Kangleipak. In a gazette notification, the Home Ministry said, the activities of these organisations are considered detrimental to the sovereignty and integrity of the country. It said, they were involved in 756 violent incidents in the last five years.

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In Jammu & Kashmir, two unidentified armed terrorists were killed after Army foiled an infiltration bid along the LoC in Kupwara district today.

Defence sources said a counter-infiltration security grid noticed movement of a group of terrorists trying to sneak into Keran sector in the district this evening.

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Dassault Aviation CEO Eric Trappier has rejected allegations made by Congress president Rahul Gandhi that he had lied about the details of the Dassault-Reliance Joint Venture for offset contracts in the Rafale deal. He said this in an interview with a news agency .

"We are not working for party. We are working and supplying strategic assets, strategic products like fighters to the Government of India, to Indian forces, to Indian Air Force and this is what is most important. I don't lie. Everything I declare before or the statements I made are true and I don't have a reputation to lie and when you are in my position as a CEO, you don't lie."

On the pricing issue, Trappier said the present aircraft are cheaper by 9 percent.

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Finance Minister Arun Jailtey today said the UPA government delayed the Rafale aircraft purchase, much required for improving combat ability of the Air force. In a tweet, Mr Jaitley slammed Rahul Gandhi over the issue and said falsehood is not a substitute for Mr Gandhi’s what he called Mr Gandhi's failed politics.

Meanwhile, Congress said that there is need for fair investigation into Rafale deal. Party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, the doctored explanations on the deal cannot cover up the alleged irregularities.

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As Cyclone Gaja in the West-Central Bay approaches the Tamil Nadu coast, the state administration is taking several precautionary measures. The cyclone is lying centred about 690 km east of Chennai and 790 km east of Nagappattinam as per the latest weather bulletin issued by the Meteorology Department.

The cyclone Gaja is predicted to get further intensified into a severe cyclonic storm during its travel mid sea. However, it may weaken when it comes closer to the shores. As the wind speed may exceed 100 kilometer an hour from tomorrow and the sea condition would be rough, the authorities have asked people in the region not to venture out. This would be the prevailing North East Monsoon season’s first cyclonic storm, and it is expected to bring rain in coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry from tomorrow evening. Jayasingh, AIR News, Chennai.

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In Bihar, Chhath festival is being celebrated with religious fervour and gaiety. Our correspondent reports that the whole atmosphere is reverberating with devotional songs.

Lakhs of devotees across the state on the banks of several rivers including Ganga ,Gandak and Kosi paid oblation to the setting sun this evening. Puja will conclude after paying offerings to the rising sun tomorrow morning. A large number of devotees have gathered at various sun temples including Deo in Aurangabad, Barka gao in Nalanda and Ular Sun temple in Paliganj to offer special prayer to Sun God.The state government has made arrangements in various jails of the state for those inmates who are performing Chhath puja. Ghats and roads have been nicely decorated with colourful lights.Elaborate security arrangements have been made to avert untoward incident.NDRF team have also been deployed for patrolling on the banks of rivers. Anand Kumar for AIR News.

Here is a report from our Kathmandu correspondent on the celebrations:

Thousands of devotees paid oblation to Sun at the banks of Bagmati and Bishnumati rivers and other water reservoirs in Kathmandu valley. Amid devotional songs people worshiped Sun God and Goddess Chhathi maiya and offered prasad. Chhath is also being celebrated with religious fervor and gaiety in Tarai- Madhes region including Janakpur, Birgunj and Biratnagar. Raj Kumar, AIR News, Kathmandu.

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In Sri Lanka, Parliament has been convened tomorrow following Supreme Court decision to stay President’s order for dissolution of parliament and holding of early elections. The three-judge bench headed by chief justice gave its ruling this evening on petitions against the President Maithripala Sirisena’s gazette to dissolve parliament. The court has put injunction on gazette till 7th of December and will hold further hearings from 5th December. The court also ordered the Elections Commission to halt preparations for the general elections scheduled for the 5th of January.

The ruling was welcomed by ousted Prime minister Mr. Wickremsinghe who said that order shows President is not above law and can’t play with constitution. A government spokesman said the case is still on and they are confident that dissolution will be upheld. Parliament will convene tomorrow as scheduled before the gazette to dissolve was issued and all eyes will be on speaker whether he allows majority vote to be decided. Santosh Kumar, AIR News, Colombo.

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In the United States, the death toll from the deadliest forest fire in California has reached 42. More bodies have been found in burned-out cars, in the smoldering ruins of their homes, or next to their vehicles. Police said more than 200 people are missing. The blaze has burnt down more than six thousand houses.

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The worst escalation between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza since a 2014 war threatened to descend into full-blown conflict after further barrages of rocket fire and dozens more air strikes overnight. Six Palestinians were killed in Gaza in less than 24 hours as Israeli strikes targeted militants and flattened buildings while sending fireballs and plumes of smoke into the sky.

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On to Sports, In Badminton, former Commonwealth Games champion Parupalli Kashyap made a solid start to his campaign in the Hong Kong Open today. He beat Chinese Taipei's Hsu Jen Hao in the qualifying round in Kowloon. Kashyap defeated Hao 21-7, 12-21, 21-18 in a match that lasted an hour and three minutes. He will next face seventh seeded Indonesian Anthony Sinisuka Ginting in the main draw tomorrow.

Mixed doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Ashwini Ponnappa outwitted Chinese Taipei's Wang Chi-Lin and Lee Chia Hsin in the opening round of the main draw. The duo will next meet another Taiwanese combination of Lee Yang and Hsu Ya Ching.

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Indian captain Virat Kohli and premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah maintained their top positions in the latest ICC ODI rankings published today.

Kohli remained in pole position with 899 points while limited overs vice-captain Rohit Sharma remained second in the list. In the bowlers' list, there are three Indians with Bumrah at the top with 841 points. Kuldeep Yadav maintained his third place in the list. His wrist spin twin Yuzvendra Chahal is placed fifth on the list.

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